New library planned in County Limerick

LEARNING is to continue in the old boys school in Cappamore when it is turned in to a library.

LEARNING is to continue in the old boys school in Cappamore when it is turned in to a library.

The building is to be refurbished and extended. Councillors in the Castleconnell electoral area were updated on the project’s progress at the last local area meeting by county librarian, Damien Brady.

Mr Brady said there are two phases – the construction of the library and the building of four artist studios.

“Detailed architectural plans have now been completed which has enabled the project to go for full planning permission,” said Mr Brady. The decision date for planning is April 18.

“The construction of the library element will allow for an exciting range of services including an adult and children’s lending service, a local studies and reference service, public and civic information services and public access to IT.

“The artists studios will act as a major resource and will both foster and support creative artistic endeavour in the community,” said Mr Brady.

In terms of overall size the library element will be 205 sq mt and the arts space 143 sq mt.

The budget cost of phase 1 of the project is €488,000, while final budget costs are not yet available for the artists work space.

“A large percentage of these costs will be met through grant aid from central Government,” said Mr Brady. Currently the council are awaiting the confirmation of the grant.

Mr Brady is “optimistic that the project would be completed over the next two years”.

The local area councillors welcomed the new library and arts service and said it would have an enormous positive impact in Cappamore and surrounding areas.

Local councillor, Noel Gleeson, said work on the project goes back over two years when the council bought the school from the church, who were its patrons.

“Mr Brady has put a big effort in to this and our local parish priest, Fr Dick Browne, helped to finalise the deal. The plans have been drawn up and they are only waiting for the final signover,” said Cllr Gleeson.

Cappamore’s library is currently too small, said Cllr Gleeson, who looks forward to the opening of the new library.

“It will have many modern facilities. The library in Kilmallock is fabulous,” said Cllr Gleeson. As well as benefiting the people of Cappamore, he says it will provide a service for people across East Limerick. The library in Doon was closed in 2009.

“People from all over come to the day-care centre and avail of the library. They like to read so it will of huge benefit to them,” said Cllr Gleeson.

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